The ETSU Department of Art & Design and Slocumb Galleries in partnership with the Urban Redevelopment Alliance and the Fletcher H. Dyer Memorial Scholarship proudly present ‘The FL3TCH3R Exhibit: Social & Politically Engaged Art’from November 1 to 27, 2013, at the Tipton Gallery. The awarding reception is on November 1, First Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. with ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland as guest of honor. In line with the new gallery art talk program ‘ArtIfact’, Prof. M. Wayne Dyer will discuss political art on November 21, 3rd Thursday at 6 p.m. at Tipton Gallery.

The FL3TCH3R Exhibit isa national juried show focused on socially engaged and politically motivated art. Progressive art has been integral in the development of contemporary art, this exhibition explores the current trends and trajectory in this field. Recent social, political and economic uncertainty has encouraged the production of work that are not meant for mere market commodity but rather, works serve as avenue or agent for societal transformation. The exhibition aims to recognize and advance this endeavor for politically motivated art. Furthermore, the exhibit benefits the Fletcher H. Dyer Memorial Scholarship Fund which eventually will benefit an ETSU Art & Design student and will be endowed through the ETSU Foundation.

The exhibition is in memory of former ETSU student Fletcher H. Dyer, age 22 who was lost too soon in a motorcycle accident on November 5, 2009. As an artist and graphic designer, Fletcher created works that addressed social and political issues that exposed injustices through visual means. Fletcher’s work embodied purposeful, deliberate perspective of his personal endeavor to employ art as social commentary. A son of equally socially-engaged lawyer and ETSU faculty/artist, Fletcher was a senior at the Department of Art and Design at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) under the Bachelor of Fine Arts program with concentration in Graphic Design. Fletcher won 5 ADDY awards locally and one SILVER district ADDY award. To find more about Fletcher, visit: http://fletcherdyer.com/.

For more information, contact Slocumb Galleries’ Director Karlota Contreras-Koterbay via contrera@etsu.edu or call 423.483.3179. The Tipton Gallery is located at 126 Spring St., Downtown Johnson City. All events are open to the public free of charge. Gallery hours are: First Fridays from 6 to 8 p.m., Mondays 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesdays 2 to 5 p.m., Thursdays 4 to 6 p.m. and by appointment.